Triumphrat

deluxe

That's why I bought the Bonnie,...need and want,...mainly want

D41

Just because I buy something I want and not something I 'need' doesn't make me greedy.
I wanted a motorcycle so I bought one, and seven years later I'm still thrilled with it and like it more than ever....this cannot define "greed" surely??...I mean, I did kinda work to earn the money to pay for it, and for nearly everything else I own for that matter.

BKK Jack

I don't think anyone said it did. If everyone only bought what they needed, and stopped buying everything they merely liked to have, a very large portion of the world's economy would collapse.

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Just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean the whole world isn't out to get me.
Words mean things.

D41

Then I must have misread an earlier post.

Boldor

Two Hundredths of a cent - you're cheap! I think we can afford to hear more from you.

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Carmelo Ezpleleta is the CEO of Dorna.
Dorna owns MotoGP and SBK

Felony

It's rather simplistic to think that companies moved their manufacturing to overseas facilities just to boost their bottom lines and profits and to screw the local workforce. It's a bit more complicated than that. When I grew up in the 50s in a middle class family, my parents were able to buy American made products and not go broke doing it. Now it seems, the average family can only afford to buy products outsourced like Rubbermaid containers from Home Depot for under $7 made in China. What would that container cost if made locally with the higher energy costs and higher labor force wages and benefits? And, would the average family buy the more expensive locally produced product over the cheaper import if given the chance? The answer appears to be no. You're a factory worker, you want to afford all the goodies that are crammed down your throat in TV ads and you want the salary and benefits to be able to purchase those items. But, you can't and companies can't compete with foreign made goods so they outsource and you loose your job and now you can only buy products made in China.

You want the government to stop companies from outsourcing? How is that going to solve the problem when the populace can't afford to buy the locally made product? The American workforce for an example, started out just like the current Chinese work force and other low wage systems. Cheap labor with little benefits. Then, the workforce got organized and demanded better wages, benefits and working conditions. This was a good thing. And now, Chinese workers are demanding a bigger piece of the pie and companies are scrambling to find the next cheap workforce, mules, to keep the competitive edge alive. At some point you hit a brick wall. Or maybe, robotics or maybe go back to a local cottage industry. I'd like to know how middle class working families in the 50s could afford a house, an Ameican made car and products and hope to have their children do better and now, that dream seems to be lost for many. You can't just blame the companies. We had a manufacturing base and now we don't to a large extent. We have evolved but to what end?

Silverado57

At my house we go out of our way to buy Made in USA products and don't mind paying a premium for them. Vehicles, clothing, tools, etc. We always check the label before we buy anything.

We avoid junk made in China and have walked away from many a purchase and would rather do without some things if they're made in China.

Case in point, it's almost impossible to buy a toaster or toaster oven made in USA. We end up buying crappy chinese toaster ovens, and we're lucky to get a couple of years out of them before they fail and have to be replaced. I'd rather spend $100 on an American-made toaster that lasts 10 years than 5 $20 chinese toasters in 10 years.

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Kevin
Luceo Non Uro
NJ USA

welshrob

I try and support local and national businesses wherever I can. If I have to pay a bit more, so be it. I like to think I`m investing in the future of my country, my city and myself. I have a Triumph dealership 8km away from my house, which really suits me if I need something in a hurry or if I need work done on my bike. I could easily buy everything online and save a few quid but if everyone had that attitude then the dealership would close and ultimately I would be the loser.

I was in there the other day and there was a bloke trying a Triumph leather jacket on, I overheard him talking to his wife, he was finding the right size so he could go home and order one from ebay. "What a parasite!" I thought, but he`s probably doing the same thing as thousands of others.

It`s human nature to want to pay as little as possible for something it makes us feel like we have won, somehow but it`s also human nature to get paid as much as possible for the job that we do. Well, guess what? That`s an imbalance that WILL stop. Globalisation is going to correct that imbalance over the next few years.

Here`s some food for thought, no matter how unique or protected you think your job might be, there is someone in a second or third world country who will do it cheaper, better and probably work harder at it and once it becomes possible for them to do that, you`re out of a job.

In Australia, more and more Aussies are travelling to Thailand and the Phillipines etc for Dentistry, medical procedures, cosmetic surgery, you name it. I broke a molar recently, it cost me $2000 for a crown. I could have got it done in Thailand incl flights accomodation, etc for $1500 PLUS I would have had week`s holiday in Thailand.

In the not too distant future, Town councils on tight budgets might be looking to import Chinese Firemen, Policemen, Maintenance workers etc etc. to save money.You think it won`t happen? It`s already happening here. The mining companies are importing Chinese labor.

We either need to develop a culture of supporting local and national business or we need to come to terms with the fact that our standard of living is going to align itself with the levels currently in China, Thailand etc.

"When we hang the capitalists, they will sell us the rope we use." Joseph Stalin.

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http://www.triumphrat.net/members/al...rrap-1882.html

deluxe

Felony,..you are absolutely correct, but it goes way beyond that as well. We have been conditioned , controlled, brainwashed to the point where most are like zombies. Your money in the bank is getting you little interest, retail prices are high, taxes, hidden taxes, fees etc are leaving us with less, disposable income is future disposable income because it is bought on credit etc,...

The next 20 years are going to be very interesting. Those on the lower end of the wage scale are really going to feel it. A global reset is in the works to bring every down so that money can start to be made again. Unions will be a thing of the past,..so will benefits and pensions,..company sponsored that is. Manufacturing will return but not on the scale we have seen it. Once we can't afford goods produced in China, the entrepreneurial sense will pick up again, with mom and pop places etc,..just like your 50's

Unfortunately those who control us and have all the money want us to live like the 50's,..but pay 2020 prices. That's why they are rich and intend on staying that way.

My 2 cents for this tip of the iceberg

deluxe

In my paper today

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/army+pe...371/story.html